Freekish Blues Alpha Drive

Overdrive "op amp" typed Dumble. We know the "controversy" that has heavily down the price of secondhand!
The case is solid and friendly, with knobs of different colors, the compartment easily accessible battery (but that seems a bit fragile), a volume, tone, gain.
Not strictly speaking a foot shop in electronic design, which seems industrialized, but the whole is solid and reassuring, the switch blues / rock, knobs, jacks are good, with good escalation settings.
The internal components are soldered properly without overload, with a simplistic but effective circuit.

UTILIZATION

It is in sound that it's mind-blowing! For those who love the "Dumble" is perfect!
For once, it not drool too serious in the micro Neck, the grain is in the pure spirit, it sings! Sustain is remarkable, and the rendering is very musical.
With a telecaster, it borders on genius! I have smallfry, Howie, the OD2 Bearfoot, it is the same size. Chinese or not, Joyo upgraded or not, it sounds terrible.
I tested with several types of amp, it is doing better than Howie who needs a suitable amp. The Bearfoot has a more subtle grain, certainly, but the Joyofreekish has a better 3D effect. The tone knob is against sub-caliber, fully, we will have the necessary bright, but one would like to go a little further in the setting.
Other than that, it pierces through the mix, the grain is perfect. It normally clean volume without being ultra flexible, on the other hand in boost function, it's very transparent.
I do not like the rock position, but it's still music without falling into caricature.

SOUND QUALITY

What to say? On the branch, we play and it explodes. I love it, regardless of the origin of manufacture, it gives me satisfaction is a great product.
I do not know how it will take time, but it looks sturdy without being a tank like a Fulltone.
The designer had the ear and the knowledge, I salute, although I do not understand the marketing approach, we do not sell yogurt, they sell her, and guitarists do not like to be bananer.
Level, this is not the case and who knows, there are probably other brands "boutique" that penny-contract in China or elsewhere.
In short, nothing in the world can not replace an amp DUMBLE is untouchable (like the movie), but it has the right to take a Robben Ford chamber, at least the time to wear a battery " Chinese ". Anyway, I prefer it to my smallfry, sorry my dear!

OVERALL OPINION

I just buy it, very friendly seller sold me a ridiculous price, which nevertheless remains higher than the Joyo Ultimate Drive, but I do not regret a single second.
This is a very good pick, I have version 1, with the printed name of Thaddeus Hogarth, devoted body and soul to his Dumble, which is out of place on this exceptional pedal.
Its only flaw (besides the tone knob and controversial origin) is to remind you that there is only one Robben Ford, and play with a sound like it will not you a Robert Ford, or Harry Carlton.
In all humility, we can still have fun and why not, to please those who listen indulgently)
No doubt Freekish products emerge under a new name with a new communication policy, unless a conversion into the fabric of noodles ...
Indeed, we must be crazy to buy a pedal Joyo cheaper! (Hey, I'm kidding, peace and love!)

Very simple, three knobs: gain, tone, volume and a switch blues or rock

UTILIZATION

With 3 knob there is no risk of being wrong. position gives a little more rock fishing and grain, but without spoiling the excellent basic sound of this pedal. The volume is a handle sparingly as it sends severe. The single knob for the tone does not go far enough for my taste in the treble, and I personally drove him to the bottom.
It can be used alone or to boost the overdrive sound of his amp or another pedal and it does wonders.

SOUND QUALITY

I been looking for an overdrive that just gives me the little grain it takes to sully its finely and I found the pearl. Remaining quarter of the gain or less I have the blues sound I wanted (I play a Les Paul). We go on a nice overdrive the gain amount, but we remain in the registry blues-rock, or rock that can snap beautiful riff has the AC / DC. What is extraordinary with this pedal is the huge momentum it provides without distorting the sound and without crushing it, but rather by magnifying and enhancing fisheries. It can therefore be used to boost an already overdriven amp or an overdrive or distortion upstream. Little gain by adjusting and playing with the volume, it takes a slap to go solo for example, remaining well defined. I have personally used in conjunction with a Wampler Pinnacle or more BB preamp.

OVERALL OPINION

Finally, an execellent overdrive, used alone or to boost an already crunchy sound or distortion. The only gripe is the lack of range of tone knob. It would be perfect with a bass and trebble. I often change gear but this pedal is one of the few that I'm not going to separate soon.
An unknown brand to discover.
A small example from youtube: